The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1887-12-21
81 THOUGHT YOU LIKED MARrHY"


One long embrace, and one shy, sweet
kiss ratified this Silent promise.
Put on that pretty lilac dress, Martic,
Monday morning, and meet me at s
O'Clock just beyond the Swayle brook, and
In one hour we will be one, and say moth
ing TO anybody. Oh. yes; one other
thing. Will you trust the children TO me
TO bring up VIII you give them into my
guardianship completely Answer yes,
without question"
"Why certainly. Since wei
'All right. Now must really go, for
til are's thousand things to do. You
viii be therei' and rs she answered yes,
he caught her plump little form To his
heart again, and kissed her again for
goodby; and he leaped the fence at a
bound, and in few minutes was ut home
about his ''chores, with light heart, for
he loved Marlie truly and well, and he
now saw his way TO happiness with the
one girl he loved.
Sunday he went away In the morning,
and was gone all day, and only returned
in time Tor supper.
After the table was cleared, and Mrs.
IIemphill sat down to rest, with q clean
pocket handkerchief folded over her knees,
to save her black silk dress, and her Bible
in her hands, for she always held her
Bible thus every Sunday evening, though
TO one could remember ever seeing her
read in il, Jabez arose from his seat and
walked up and down the room in silence.
His mother watched him uneasily
At last he spoke:
"Mother, am thinking of getting mar
ried.n
II wax out Mt last.
Her fear was well placed, and the shock
was great.
"Mo.her, how would you like Lucinda
Rosencrants for daus6tcr?"
In all her imaginings she had never let
her fancy run riot to an extent that could
have permitted Lucinda Rosencrants to
enter her head as the possible choice of
her son.
Pretty enough, but coarse and ignorant;
daughter Of two idle, dissolute parents;
lazy and slovenly herself, and fond of
dancing and party going, and all the very
things that Mrs. Hemphill abhorred, 1t is
no wonder that she sat pale and shocked
and speechless.
ever heard of, Lucinda was the last one
that she would have chosen, and she could
not bear it.
said, TREMENDOUSLY.
81 do like Martha; but you said so
much
81 rather you'd picked her QUIT
"She refused me-"
"Refused you'll guess you're as good
as she any time, Any gal ought to be
proud to get YOU"
'She did not think so, and her refusal
did not hurt me long. What do you
think of LucindaY"
ooh, Jabez, don't ask. i never can
give in to your marrying into that awful
family. just think Of what a set they
are, and Lucinda'll be just the same.
There amt another girl that can hold a
candle to Marthy IL II wasn't for them
there children"
"She gave them all away yesterday, ]
heard, TO a guardian"
"Jabez, don't you think you could
change her resolution Ye amt bound &c
Lucindy, be yen
"You know, mother, I never break my
word"
Mrs. Ilemphill groaned.
"I'd ruther you had took Marthy
with ten young uns to feed and raise than
Lucindy," and she began to cry, where
Rpon Jabez hurried Off.
The next morning Jabez was gone, no
one knew where, and the whole farm
seemed to want him back; though it was
MONDAY, there was no work done, and
Mr.. and Mrs. Hemphill sat dejectly in the
"best room"
"Father" said at last, knocking the
ashes out Of his pipe:
~ knowed Saturday that sumpin was
up, but l never guessed what, and I'm
blamed II amt sorry for him to go and
take up with that shiftless Lucindy, when
he might a. had Marthy, only for your
bein' so sot agin' them poor little young
sters; and think Marthy was a-doin' her
duty. I'm blamed sorry"
"Mr. Hemphill, don't swear, and don't
say broke of the match. / never done
nuthin', only Friday / told Marthy my
opinion about 1t, and she got mad, and
s'pose said something that maddened
Jabez, for the next day he went OIL, and
s'pose he asked Lucindy.